CD REVIEW: NEW RELEASE

 
ARTIST: PRISM QUARTET
TITLE:  THE SINGING GOBI DESERT
LABEL: INNOVA 885

TUNES: THE SINGING GOBI DESERT/ MESSAGES OF WHITE/ DREAM OF A HUNDRED FLOWERS/ THE THREE TENSES 68:25

PERSONNEL: Timothy McAllister, ss; Zachary Shemon, as; Matthew Levy, ts; Taimur Sullivan, bari s; Wang Guowei, erhu; Chen Yihan, pipa; Helen Yee, yangqin; Frank Cassara, perc; Hu Jianbing, sheng; Bright Sheng, cond; Nové Deypalan, cond; Huand Ruo, cond.

February 5-8, 2012; Conshohocken, Pennsylvania.

The latest release from the PRISM Quartet finds them paired with an ensemble known as Music From China. Together they perform a series of compositions by American composers who were born in China. With support from the National Endowment for the Arts, the University of Michigan, The Presser Foundation, The Aaron Copland Fund for Music Inc., and Pennsylvania Performing Arts on Tour, these musicians were able to travel to suburban Philadelphia to record these compositions. Although PRISM is already known as a champion of new music, they have outdone themselves with this latest recording. Not only is the music incredibly stimulating, but the performances are top-notch. The pairing of professional saxophonists with traditional Chinese instrumentalists creates a beautiful blend. PRISM’s lush harmonies often provide an exceptional sonority for the other instruments to romp over. The favor is returned, though, when Music From China performs accompaniment duties as the saxophones explore advanced techniques. Although the music can be playful at times, it is not novelty music. In fact, both ensembles have created stunning realizations of serious compositions. Hopefully this release will bring to public attention the incredible contemporary compositions that are currently blossoming from the Chinese-American community.

Dustin Mallory CD
review from Volume 41, No. 2, 2015 
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